Cow pox is a contagious eruptive skin disease of cattle.
It is mostly confined to udder and teat. It can spread to human beings.
ETIOLOGY:
Cow pox is caused by a large virus of vaccine subgroup.
SUSCEPTIBLE HOSTS:
Cow pox is seen in cattle, monkey, rabbit, guinea pig, mice and man.
Incidence is more common in cow due to contact milker’s hand while milking.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION:
– Direct contact with affected cows.
– Transmitted via hands of the milkers.
– Insect can also act as an agent.
– Milking machine can also act as a agent.
– Virus can enter through the small abrasions of udder or teat.
– Disease is more prevalent in winter rather than summer, because virus gets inactivated in hot.
PATHOGENESIS:
Incubation period: 3-7 days
Lesions appear on teat and udder. It comprise of erythema, followed by papules, vesicles, blister and pustules. Pustules finally become a scab. The scab detach during milking and ulcerative areas develop. Scendory bacterial infection or trauma can aggravate the lesion and can end up in mastitis.
SYMPTOMS:
– Temperature is low.
– Anorexia, suspended rumination and depression.
– Udder swollen, hot and sensitive.
– Typical pock lesions on teat and udder.
– Lesions can be seen in face of the calf, as they gets the infection while suck the infected mother.
– In bulls, it can be seen on scrotum and inside thighs.
– Due to recurrent attack secondary mastitis can set in.
CONTROL:
– Hygienic should be maintained.
– Isolation of affected cattle from the healthy ones.
– Disinfection of milking machine.
– Hands of milker should be properly washed.
– First milk the non infected ones and then the infected ones.
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT:
Belladonna: when eruptions are red during stage of inflammation. Throbbing pain without pus formation.
Calcarea carb: when eruptions are not red but pale and painful.
Arsenicum album: burning pain as if coals of fire were put on affected parts. Cutting and burning pain which gets aggravated after midnight.
Hepar sulph: excessive sensitiveness of affected part, sharp sticking pain. When pus comes out it will be thick, yellow and sensitive to touch.
Silicea: when there is low healing. Pus is thin and watery.
Anthraxinum: it is an excellent remedy. It has burning and high fever.
Dr. Keerthi MS
BHMS Consultant
Curewell Homoeo Pharmacy Pvt Ltd.
Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
